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The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron is one of many things to see and do

The small town of Alpena has a retro downtown and friendly family atmosphere and is a good base for a trip exploring area of Thunder Bay, Michigan.
(Ellen Creager / MCT)

By Myscha TheriaultSpecial to the Star

Wed., Aug. 21, 2013

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron is protects a number of sunken shipwrecks. The coastal area surrounding it boasts a number of other things to see and do.

So how do you maximize your Thunder Bay travel itinerary?

Making your home base in the small town of Alpena will ensure you have access to all the vacation support you’ll need. The community’s retro downtown and friendly family atmosphere are a bonus.

The following suggestions represent my top travel picks for those visiting this affordable destination.

Fun: Obviously, no trip to Thunder Bay is complete without experiencing the sanctuary, itself. Thunderbay.noaa.gov has printable paddling guides for those interested in a more independent kayaking or snorkel experience. Many of the wrecks have seasonal buoys anchored to the lake bottom, making them easier to locate. You can plan to paddle for a few hours or a few days, whatever timeline suits your schedule. As access to the sanctuary is complimentary, this is a particularly thrifty activity to include in your plans. If a leisurely ride is more your speed, Alpena Shipwreck Tours offers glass bottom boat rides for $30 per adult ticket and $10 per ticket for children 12 years of age and younger.

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A must-see attraction is the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, which serves as the interpretive visitor centre for the sanctuary and also as a museum celebrating the region’s shipping background. This is no humdrum venue. It offers 9,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits the kids will love, a 93-seat theatre showing daily thematic films, crawling tubes to experience an underwater sensation and a full-sized ship exhibit with life-like storm effects. Admission is free, and the venue is located next to the town’s riverfront heritage walking trail.

For an easy-to-drive-to morning excursion, head to the Presque Isle lighthouses. Located near each other along Lake Huron, the two structures offer a peek back in time at the rustic life of the actual lighthouse keepers. While the lighthouses themselves cost $3 each to climb, the park areas surrounding them are free to visit and come with access to the lake. The grounds of the slightly newer structure from 1905 come with access to swings, picnic tables, a sandbox and several miles of walking trails. If you want to plan a packed lunch during one day of your trip, this is a great place to do it.

Alpena also has a 600-acre wildlife preserve accessible by kayak and canoe. The Besser Natural Area provides lucky paddlers up-close encounters with swans, Canadian Geese, ducks and other birds in a setting that’s a bit inland from Huron. If you’re just driving through for the weekend and don’t have your own gear, Adventureland Sports offers kayak and canoe rentals for $10 per hour. Equipment and ramp access are available at Duck Park, along with parking.

Food: After you work up a sweat, cool off at Scoops, a fun old-fashioned ice cream parlour located in Alpena’s historic downtown district. For less than $4, you can enjoy your decadent flavour of choice in a dish or homemade waffle cone. The place typically offers a sorbet selection, for those who are avoiding dairy. If the weather happens to be cool, you can warm up with a steamy cup of Joe at nearby Cabin Creek Coffee. It is vegan friendly and supplies a variety of non-dairy milk choices, has a diverse menu of fun coffee flavours and serves a range of baked goods and sandwiches. If you’re only in the mood for a light snack while you caffeinate, the shop has a pita bread and hummus plate that rings in at only $4. Feel more like a beer? The Black Sheep Pub offers a cozy decor, brews on tap and succulent specialty burgers for seven bucks.

For a more traditional sit-down lunch or dinner, there are a few places in town that are worth the splurge. The Cellar offers affordable fine dining in a riverfront location. A number of starters and salads ring in at less than $10 as do most of its brunch selections. Many of its rotating signature entrees are affordably priced at less than 20 bucks, and sized for serious eaters.

Interested in hearty Italian fare? Consider a meal at The Courtyard. Steeped in atmosphere and supplying live music on Thursday nights, the menu does not disappoint. Favorite picks includeseared prawn and asparagus flatbread starters, as well as $16-eggplant entreé. The restaurant offers a vegan risotto on request.

Lighter sandwich choices are available at The Fresh Palate. Located downtown, the venue offers a creative, veg.-friendly menu with plenty of selections. Most items on the menu are less than 10 bucks.

Myscha Theriault is a co-author of the book 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, and founder of TrekHound.com, a website for independent travellers.

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